What to Drink after a Day at Legoland: Karl Strauss Brewing Company

I’m the best father on Earth. Really! Just ask my son. But do it quickly, because the thrill of being taken to Legoland in California for his eight birthday may wear thin soon. If you have young children, chances are this theme park is on their radar. If you are like me, you will relish a day of watching your kids go nuts over every new Lego adventure. If you are like me, you will want a beer in a big, bad way when the sun starts to set.

Never fear! If you go to Legoland, there is a treat for you at the end of the day. After a full day of giggling on kiddie rides, you can head across the street to the Karl Strauss Brewing Company brewpub in Carlsbad, Calif. It is one of five Karl Strauss brewpubs in Southern California, which opened its original location in 1989 – the first brewpub in San Diego since Prohibition. It has 10 beers on tap with full menu of forty-some rotating beers including six regulars, seasonals and special release. They also have a full gastro-pub grub menu, including kids’ eats.

Before I had even got the kids into the door of the pub, Beautiful Wife was already bellied up to the bar and ordered a Karl Strauss Amber Lager for herself and a Red Trolley Ale for me, both classic beers on the menu. She must have been thirsty because the sample glasses they provided and a three-finger measure of her beer had already evaporated. Both of our beers were Legolicious.

Red Trolley Ale

Look

Deep copper red-head with a finger depth of creamy off-white head and decent lacing.

Smell

Full snout of malt, caramel and grainy mown grass dried in the sun.

Taste

It packs a wallop of malt like a toasted oat sweetened cereal with toffee, brown sugar and slight fruitiness. The rich color and full maltiness doesn’t mean this is a bold beer. It’s actually quite light in body and flavor. It has fizzy effervescence, but it doesn’t quite equate to a smooth or creamy mouthfeel. It’s a good beer to suck back after a long day in the sun.

I also had a pint of the Pintail Pale Ale, a citrusy, floral session beer that went really well with seared tuna. It had just enough Cascade hops to give it a crisp, dry quality. Quite refreshing.

When you are done with Dune Raiders, DUPLO Village, Lego Technic Coaster and The Dragon, go grab a beer. You’ve earned it.

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Matt McGinnis

As a marketing strategist for Pen & Tell Us, Matt McGinnis provides marketing, branding and communications counsel to food and beverage as well as other clients globally. He is also an avid beverage enthusiast, chronicling his interests as a Food & Drink contributing writer for CultureMap, as the Food & Drink columnist for Austin Man Magazine, and as a blogger for What Are You Drinking?. He is passionate about the wine industry having previously worked at a winery in Oregon and in wine sales. He has served as Guest Host of Sommelier Cinema at the Alamo Drafthouse, and is a Certified Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers. His writing has been recognized as a Top 10 Food Blog by the Austin Chronicle in 2013 and 2014, with a 2011 Texas Social Media Award from the Austin American-Statesman.
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